Soterius von Sachsenheim

Family History

Anna Maria S.v.S. née Filtsch 1752-1806

Wife of Johann Michael Snr. Kept detailed accounts of their meetings with the Emperor Leopold II.

On May 6th 1770, Johann Michael Soterius married 18 year-old Anna Mara Filtsch, daughter of the Hermannstadt parish pastor (table 6). An absolute highlight for Frau Soterius was a long flattering laudation to her by the Monarch himself during a celebration hosted by Baron Bruckenthal, in honour of the Emperor Joseph II's presence at his palace in Hermannstadt. The speech, which of course had been written by her husband, was even published in the "Kaiser Königlich allergnädigst privilegierte Anzeigen"14 (table 7). It would have been quite a triumph for her, when 13 years later during his subsequent visit, the Emperor asked for her and, when she was absent, sent for her.

Soterius was very musical. He wrote down music by ear and he also composed. Frau Soterius did not only happily engage in social life, she also had the ambition to be a good housewife. The same precision with which she had recorded every detail of her conversation with Emperor Joseph II, she would apply upon household budget book keeping. Her recipes are still being used today by many of her great-grandchildren and are often praised. In 1771, the oldest child was born. The baby girl was baptised Anna Maria. Although Hermannstadt was plague infested, extensive christening celebrations were held. In 1786, Soterius became Gubernialsekretär15, a position that enabled him to achieve even more in his people's favour. After Bruckenthal's retirement in Hermannstadt, a frequent social contact between the two families evolved. He loved his nephew, who helped him to organise his coin collection and to expand and organise his library. Soterius himself owned considerable collections.

The little daughter was followed by two boys. Johann Michael, the Younger, later became Generatperceptor16 and the patriarch of an extensive family. The younger brother Charles died of smallpox as a child aged 14 years (table 8).

Following the Edict of Restitution in 1790, a decision was made in 1792 to send a delegation to the Emperor. Mayor Rosenfeld and Soterius were deployed on behalf of the Saxons. The Saxon nation wanted to put forward their own proposal for regulation. Another memorandum was drawn up. Soterius provided the material and Tartler finalised the script. In January 1792, the delegation travelled to Vienna. For this journey, Anna had made an embroidered silk vest (table 19) for her husband, which is still in the possession of the family. For the Rosenfeld and Soterius families, those weeks in Vienna turned out to be a very pleasant affair. Both delegates had taken their wives and daughters.

This article is taken from the family history book compiled by Fritz Soterius von Sachsenheim.